District



-No. 624,478. Patented May 9, I899. C. GREEN 6. JP. OSULLIVAN.

STREET INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY CARS.

(Application filed Jun. 19, 1899.) (No Model.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

FIG.

n4: uonms PEYERS 00,. PHOTO-LI'THQ. WASHINGTON n. c.

No. 624,478. Patented May 9,1899. 7

c. GREEN & J. P. OSULLIVAN. STREET INDICATOR FOB RAILWAY CABS.

(Application filed Jan. 19. 1599.) 1 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES CHARLES GREEN. AND JOHN PATENT OFFICE.

P. OSULLIVAN, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TRFiET-INDICATOR FoR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 624,478, dated May 9, 18993.

Application filed January 19, 1899. Serial No. 702,745. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES GREEN and JOHN P. OSULLI'VAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Indicators for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in that class of street-indicators in which the name of the street at which the car will next arrive will be automatically displayed at the proper time and place by means of a directacting vertical rod operated by a raised bar or striker fastened to the track.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are views of the standard street-car, showing the indicator and operating parts connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of theindicator, showing the belt, rolls, and shafts. Fig. is an outside view of one end of the indicator,showing the shafts and gear-wheels. Fig. 5 is aview of a reversible ratchet. Fig. 6 is an outside front view of the indicator, showing the opening for displaying the names of the streets. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a reversible ratchet.

The objects of this invention are to improve and simplify the mechanism employed in the construction of this class of street-indicators and also the method of reversing said mechanism without removing any of its parts.

In Fig. 3 we particularly refer to the compactness of A, which represents the case or inclosure containing the rolls,having an opening in front to exhibit the street-names, the minimum size of said case being an important item in street-car fittings.

The mechanism of this indicator consists of the rolls B B, fixed to the shafts b and 0, respectively, the said shafts being journaled in the casing A and jointly engaged and re: volved by the connecting-gears (l d, fitted to said shafts, as shown on Fig. 4. On the said rolls is a tape E, with the names of streets placed on one face, having its ends fastened to the rolls and being wound and unwound on the rolls alternately.

It will be readily understood that it is necessary to reverse the names and motion of shown in Fig. 3, operates the said rolls by means of the gears previously mentioned. The arm of the reversible ratchet F is pivoted to the upper end of the vertical rod G. The said rod, having the roller H attached to its lower end and being operated by the striker or projection I on the track, is forced to make a required stroke and by means of the ratchet and connecting shaft and gears causes the indicator-rolls to revolve sufficiently to display the name of each street in its order through the opening in the indicator at the proper time and place. The rod G resumes its original operating position by means of its own weight and is supported by means of the nut J and the guide K. The upward stroke of the rod G, engaging the reversible ratchet F, is caused by the striker or projection on the track, and the downward engaging stroke when the ratchet has been reversed and the car is returning over the same' route is caused by the weight of said rod.

WVe are aware that street-indicators have been operated by an obstruction on the track similar to the bar I, and we are also aware that indicators of the roller-and-belt type have been constructed, and we do not, therefore, broadly claim the invention thereof, our invention consisting, essentially, in the improvement of the mechanism, which is designed so as to be reversed without removing any of the parts and being automatically operated by a direct-acting rod, as previously described.

The reversible ratchet F, which is shown in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 7, consists of the disk f, with teeth milled on its face, the said teeth being engaged by the trigger h, which is operated reversibly by the pin 70. While we have shown this design of a reversible ratchet, we may use any type that will best adapt itself for the purpose set forth.

Having thus described our invention,what

IOO

the combination consisting of a pair of rolls fixed upon two horizontal shafts which are journaled in a casing having an opening in front to display the names of streets; a pair of spur gear-wheels fixed to and engaging said shafts; a belt passing over said rolls being arranged to unwind from one upon the other alternately, having the names of the streets indicated thereon and its ends fastened to said rolls; a reversible ratchet attached to one of the said shafts for operating the rolls by means of the said gears, a direct-acting vertical rod pivotally connected at its upper end to the arm of the said reversi ble ratchet, and fitted at its lower end with a roller; a projection fitted on the rail to automatically operate the indicator, substantially as herein described.

CHARLES GREEN. JOHN P. OSULLIVAN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. DE LACY, O. M. IRELAN. 

